'This is targeted legislation': Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Waqf Amendment Bill

NEW DELHI: The Waqf Amendment Bill is set to be tabled in Parliament today amid political tensions, with opposition parties preparing to challenge its provisions while the ruling BJP defends it as beneficial for poor and backward Muslims.
The bill, which aims to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, will face an 8-hour discussion after Question Hour, with the outcome likely determined by majority numbers on the floor.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal expressed strong opposition to the bill ahead of its introduction.
"In the introduction stage itself, the INDIA alliance and all like-minded parties had a clear-cut stand on it. This bill is a targeted legislation and is fundamentally against the Constitutional provisions. We are going to oppose this bill... This is what has been decided unanimously by the INDIA alliance parties. We request other like-minded parties also to vote against this bill," Venugopal stated.
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who chaired the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the bill, defended the legislation as beneficial for poor and Pasmanda Muslims.
"Our hard work has paid off...The government is coming with the bill in an amended form today. This is definitely a historic day. Today, with the passing of this bill, the poor and Pasmanda Muslims are going to benefit...We have conducted the JPC meetings in the last six months. We have heard them (opposition) 8 hours every day," said Pal.
Pal accused the All India Muslim Personal Law Board of politicizing the issue through their call for wearing black bands during Ramzan prayers.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju will move the Waqf Amendment Bill of 2025 for consideration and passing.
BJP leader Mohsin Raza expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that passing the amendments would be the biggest "Eidi" for marginalized Muslims.
The bill was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha in August last year, after which a Joint Parliamentary Committee was formed under Jagdambika Pal's leadership.
The proposed legislation aims to address challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties by improving their administration and management.
The amendments seek to overcome shortcomings in the previous Act by introducing changes such as renaming the Act, updating Waqf definitions, improving registration processes, and enhancing technology use in managing Waqf records.
The current Waqf Act of 1995, which regulates Waqf properties, has faced criticism over issues including mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments.
The bill's fate appears uncertain as both the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and the Opposition INDIA bloc show no signs of reaching a bipartisan consensus.